Hans Gutbrod says: that's precisely the type of entrepreneurstuff we need: simple proven solutions, scaled to the proper size.

Peggy Lucas says: My favourite part of this is that the people will actually own the bike, meaning you don't have to worry about returning the bike to its "station" on time (as in Paris or Barcelona). It also reduces a lot of the maintenance the company has to do (e.g. moving bikes around, as people tend to leave them at the bottom of hills, and fixing broken bikes). Great idea!

Kathryn Davies says: It sounds cool but what if people don't value them because they've got them for nothing?

Wouldn't Londoners just get drunk and take the tube and then forget where they've left the bikes?

Or get bored and push them into canals?

(not that I have anything against Londoners)

Steve Johnson says: Great. Well presented and useful for so many reasons. One reason that is not so obvious but which actually contributes greatly to the success of the "Free Commuter Bike" is the opportunity it creates for large companies to actually contribute to a greener and healthier community and still get their message out. Love it!

EmmaJane Knight says: This is a superb project that is environmentally aware and has many positive aspects to it. I am a total advocate of biking in London. It's free, it keeps you fit, it halves your travelling time, there are no parking fines to worry about, it lifts your spirits to do the excercise and see the outside world, and you get to put your heavy bags and shopping in your bike basket too. If it rains, you just put on your light weight poncho that folds up in to nearly nothing when the sun is out. In addition, more bikes will help reduce London traffic and raise the quality of Londoner's lives.

Jerry van Gessel says: Nice idea, but they have something similar in Amsterdam.

Dusty Wilson says: This sounds like a great idea and something that would really benefit London, not only the people receiving the bikes. I think people would value the bikes, even though they are free. My bike was given to me for free (from a friend who was moving away) and I value it just as much as I would a bike I paid a lot of money for, the only difference is that I was able to have a bike when I couldn't afford one.

Jonathan Adams says: I'm curious - why hasn't this taken off in London before? It exists in other cities like Amsterdam.

Jorge Amores says: I like your aproach. Actually your idea is similar as mine but...well the good think it that there are some people trying to improve the use of bike instead of cars! ....This is great! Good luck!

Bremley W.B. Lyngdoh says: I just gave you a top rating Mike as I love bikes. I rode my bike across the US from the Golden Gate Bridge in SFO to the steps of the US Capitol in WDC in 9 weeks on a project called pedal for the planet back in the summer of 1998 and raised $500,000 with 100 other riders for supporting sustainable development project in 75 developing nations. It was so much fun - sweat, blood and tears for mother earth. Let me know what you think of my little project when you have a moment!

HULYA SEN says: i think the idea should have been a sloution for transportation because not just cars cause carbondioxide. The bike idea is only a solution for the traffic inside of the city. And here we are searching for a universal solution, this bike idea is not possible for the whole world because the world is not covered with straight plane roads all over.. and also people in every age cannot ride bikes.

shortly this idea is not universal and not solving the main problem.

if you would offer a new type of transportatin for every type of climate, every type of people which people can use instead of cars and other vehicles, which also doesnt cause carbondioxide, this would be perfect.. but not your idea.

Alex Hanganu says: You do understand that this idea has no commercial viability.
You will never see your bikes back!

In a couple of months all the sponsors will withdraw because the frame add panels will be ripped off, so on - they impede the paddling. You get the idea!

Besides, is not the one euro rental fee which keeps people from paddling! Keep thinking it through and you and the jury will see how ridiculous this idea really is.

Mark Mullen says: Thanks for the comments. The bikes we have sourced are reasonable quality and we think people will take care of them. The main reason for abandonment is flat tires, and we hope to have a good mobile mechanical set up as part of the venture.

We are confident that sponsors will appreciate the opportunity to be seen in this way in London. In the market research we have done, many more people look at bikes (and remember what was written there) than they do at taxi and bus ads, and those are much more expensive.

There is hardly a problem in the world for which bicycles are not part of the solution.

Kate Head says: I think flooding London with bikes will change the way the city moves. Because they are owned they are more likely to be taken care of by their recipients. Mobile fixing stations or a few kiosks around town to fix bikes are a nice job for budding business owners.

Lincoln Mitchell says: Sounds like a great idea. When are you starting a similar program in New York?

Pauline K says: This is a great concept because it also eliminates another problem which usually deters people from owning bikes in London -- frequent theft. What's the point in anyone stealing, when these are available for free?

Traci Cook says: The combination of clever idea with simple execution makes this a great concept with a high likelihood of success. Self-interest is the best indicator of behavior and this concept addresses that at every angle. The advertisers get green credentials, the individual gets a better way to get around in a crowded city (and eventually notices the health benefits) and we all get less traffic and a better environment. I don't think there will be any problem in people valuing their 'free' bikes. Why would you abandon something that gives you another transportation option and in some cases (heavy traffic in the center of London) a better and faster one? Plus, the mobile mechanic stations mentioned in the comments will not only serve to prevent abandonment but will also tighten the link between the advertisers and the users (I suspect you wouldn't be able to get your bike fixed if you had torn off the advertising), thus making this an even more valuable proposition from both sides of the equation. My suggestion is to give away helmets too: promotes bike safety and gives your sponsors another space to advertise.

Grégoire Mazarakis says: The idea is indeed not new but the fact to present the bike for free is not used in many cities today. I see two point you would need to consider:
- Who will repair the damaged bikes?
- Who will pay the total initiative? Advertising will do, but will it pay everything?
Don't forget also that in W-Europe there are a lot of rainy days and people might be scared off to use a bike.

Carl W Cheesman says: This is what the City council in Oslo - Norway has done.
You have a membership card at a low cost and there are bike "deposits" all over the city where you can pick up or deliver bikes 24/7/365.

Brilliant concept!